Do 22

The Dornier Do 22 was a German twin‑engine seaplane developed in the mid‑1930s as a maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft. Conceived by Claudius Dornier’s design team, the Do 22 first flew in 1935 and entered service with the Luftwaffe and several foreign navies, most notably the Bulgarian and Swedish forces, during the pre‑World War II era. Its wooden fuselage and fabric‑covered wings were built around a central float with two smaller outrigger stabilizers, giving the aircraft excellent water‑handling characteristics and the ability to operate from both sea and shore bases.

Powered by two 750 hp BMW Bramo 323 radial engines mounted on the wings, the Do 22 could reach a top speed of roughly 300 km/h and a range of 2 500 km, allowing long‑duration patrols over the Baltic and Mediterranean seas. The aircraft’s armament typically included a forward‑firing 7.92 mm machine gun and a rear defensive gun, alongside a modest payload of bombs or depth charges for anti‑shipping missions.

Although quickly superseded by more advanced metal monoplanes, the Do 22 demonstrated the versatility of amphibious designs and contributed valuable operational experience that influenced later Dornier water‑aircraft such as the Do 217 and the post‑war Do 27.

Dornier

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Design & Classification